Men's Golf Fires Its Way To Tourney Title

Led by a pair of 76s from freshmen Matt Dost and Tim Deardourff, the Harvard men's golf team blew past its competition to win its second consecutive Greater Boston Championship at the Concord Country Club on Tuesday.

Consistent effort gave the Crimson five scores in the 70s and afforded the team the luxury of not counting a solid score of 80 from junior Doug Macbean.

Harvard blew the doors off its competition in the seven-team event, coming in a full 15 strokes ahead of second-place B.C.

"It was great to win an event, especially to do it so convincingly," MacBean said.

Harvard began play on the less-challenging back nine, where it looked to attack the course and to post low scores before facing the more-menacing front nine.

The tactic succeeded admirably. Three Crimson players went out in par or better, and only freshman Kai Vasales posted a lower score on his second nine.

The quick start allowed the Crimson to play more passively as it ran into the course's most challenging section, holes three through five. This stretch of four consecutive par fours, all of which measure over 400 yards, represented the most fearsome test on the golf course.

The holes are heavily treed and feature uneven terrain that made accurate tee-shot placement a challenge for those without an intimate understanding of the layout.

"The key to the course was to play well on the first nine," MacBean said. "Then we had to survive holes two through five...where unbelievable undulation makes local knowledge really important."

The win earned the Crimson a spot in Northern New England regionals today in Rhode Island.

Dost and Deardourff continued their outstanding season-long contributions, firing scores of 76 which were only one stroke off the medal.

"The freshmen continue to post great scores," McBean said. "It really bodes well for the future. The pressure of college golf hasn't fazed them at all."

That the team's newcomers have performed so well is certainly also a testament to the strong play and leadership of the teams veterans.

Co-captain Alex Gonzalez fired a five-over 77 yesterday, continuing the solid streak that began when he took medallist honors at last weekend's Ivy Championship.

"Gonzalez is primed to play well," MacBean said. "He and [co-captain Andy] Rourke have provided solid leadership all year."